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Malocclusion Problems

Seldom do we see people with naturally perfect aligned teeth. It is when the upper teeth are somewhat forward of the lower teeth. The term “malocclusion” or poor bite can be due to the anatomy or the size of the teeth or the jaw. If there’s a problem in the structure of the jaw in children, the teeth spring up into a space that may be too small that they tend to push each other out of the right alignment, and sometimes even the jaw joint can be misplaced; however, there are times that some mild cases of malocclusions may ameliorate as the child grows up and the jaw changes. Misaligned teeth can be from mild to severe. If it’s a mild malocclusion, then there’s no cause for alarm; however, if it’s severe, as in crooked or protruding, then it affects your ability to eat and speak properly, and without the treatment the condition will not improve in most cases, especially if the position or the jaw size is involved.

Causes of malocclusion

Genetics - jaw and tooth size and transposed teeth can be inherited, or conditions such as cleft palate

Oral habits- thumb sucking, pacifier use of more than six hours within 24 hours, mouth breathing

Tooth loss - causes teeth to erupt in empty spaces as a result of trauma or tooth extraction
 
Types of malocclusion

Class I

• Crowding problems: tooth can’t erupt normally because of too much or too little space in its “receptacle”
• Transpositions: teeth overlap over another
• Crossbites: all or any of the upper teeth fit amiss on the side of the lower teeth.
• Rotations: tooth tips out of its normal position

Although the upper and the lower molars are perfectly laid in position, these conditions can also be present in severe cases.

Class II upper and lower molars fit, but the position goes toward the throat with the chin drawn back

Class III lower and upper molars don’t fit. Lower molars are positioned forward so that jaw protrudes and the lower front teeth extend outward in a crossbite with the upper teeth.

Other common conditions

• Upper protrusion: upper front teeth are pushed outward due to small lower jaw, shape of upper palate changes
• Midline misplacement: front center line of the upper front teeth and the center line of the lower front teeth don’t match
• Open bite: molars fit together, but the upper and lower front teeth are not over top of each other creating a gap directly into the mouth that may either be present one or both sides  
• Overbite: upper front teeth extend too far down over the lower front teeth causing it to bite into upper palate of the mouth
• Overjet: upper front teeth is slanting horizontally
• Underbite: the lower front teeth are forward to a great extent than the upper front teeth.
• Treatment may involve tooth extraction or wearing dental appliances to correct the poor bite. There may be some conditions of malocclusion that surgery or orthodontic treatment is required to improve the bite and remedy eating and speaking difficulties.